What do you consider ’long’?

Hi Enfys,

(1) Please don't feel badly.  I don't have terribly much (quantity of) hair beyond the point where it was 3 years ago -- because the last 12-15 inches are quite thin.

What are you gonna do with your next 3 years' growth?  Keep it, and enjoy it? 

(2) Actually, I've never had that problem.  Somehow I've managed to avoid it.  But I do occasionally get hair in odd places.  Always pulling it out of the laundry, both after the washer and the dryer.  And it does tend to pile up on the floor in places - get the toes wrapped in it and I'll hear the occasional "snap" sound 'cause I'm stepping on the other end with the other foot.

Back to the topical question, I certainly don't consider shoulder-length or a bit below (on women) as being "long."  I consider that to be "medium."  To me, "short" is chin or shorter.  Long is at least mid-back, and super-long (to me, on others) is below waist-length.  Even that is biased toward shorter lengths.  Given the extent of my strands, and similar (but opposite) bias of the styling industry, I might consider my hair as super-long, knee-length as long, "classic" length as "medium," and waist-length or less as "short."  Pretty funny, right?  Goes to show you how ridiculous the styling industry's definitions are.

I get my "personal" classes of hair length from the general population and what I see there.  Given the vast magority of women have hair bra strap or shorter I'll start with that.  Bra Strap of longer, to me is REALLY long.  Bra Strap to 2 or 3 inches below shoulders is long. From there to mid neck is medium.  Mid neck to 2 to 4 inches long is short.  Pixie is very short.  Just my thoughts.

Hi Mysty,

Welcome to HairTalk.

I often have to categorize the images in our galleries...so here is what I use as a general rule of thumb for defining hair lengths:

1.  No hair - bald
2.  Fuzz covering - fade or fuzz covering
3.  Hair that covers the head but generally above the ears - very short
4.  Hair from the ears to the chin - short hair
5.  Hair from chin to the top of the shoulders - medium length
6.  Hair from shoulders to the bra strap - bra strap length aka BSL
7.  Hair from BSL to the waist - waist length long hair
8.  Hair from Waist to the bottom of the derrierre - Classic length long hair.
9.  From derrierre to mid thigh - thigh length
10. From mid-thigh to knees - knee length
11. From knees to mid calf - calf length
12. From mid calf to ankles - ankle length
13.  From ankles to the floor - floorlength
14.  Floorlength + inches - floorlength plus

When it comes to what is considered long...it is all relative.  It is sort of like how high is up or how hot is hot? 

A lot depends on your height, your weight, your hair texture (curly and wavy hair will not stretch full length w/out help) and your attitude.

I remember when I was first growing out my hair I went to a long hair salon.  The woman making my appontment asked how long my hair was.  I proudly proclaimed that it was at the bottom of my bra clasp.  I was so excited.  She said...oh I can book you because we have time for a short hair at 11:00 am.  I almost cried.

But then I got to the salon and the walls were covered with women with floor length tresses.  Arggghhhhh.

I think when describing your own "long hair" you need to describe it how you feel comfortable.  My own hair is approximately 5" below my waist and would probably be considered "classic length" but sometimes I feel a light brush against the top of my thighs.  What a thrill.  But anyway, I usually say....x inches below my waist.  It feels the best way for me.

Again...it is all subjective. When I am talking to Dave Decker on the phone I feel like I have a crewcut because his hair is sooooo much longer than mine, he has been growing it longer AND he is taller. 

And then there is Lady Godiva (hey LG) who has awesome hair that is wayyyyyyyyyy longer than mine will probably ever be.  So to me, I have relatively short hair, but to everyone here at HB.com they talk about my super long hair.

Find your own comfort zone and chill out there.  :-)

Best wishes,
karen

Edited by Karen Shelton

Thanks Karen and Dave, well I measured again the way they said on here and it is 23" , now to me this is Long...and gettin longer   I love the support on here it is fantastic and all the great tips.  I agree Karen to me your hair is loooooooooooong, but then when your growing it out it can never be long enuff, I say I want mid back but I know IF it will , I want it longer.  So thanks for the welcome and all the help!!!

Edited by mysty

measuring from my hairline, my hair is 30 and a bit inches long...would you guys count thant as long? (It reaches my elbows.)

I quite like my hair as it is which is probably good as I don't think it'll grow any longer but it'd be quite nice if it reached my waist. Any longer and I'd probably get frustrated and chop it all off!

poor u! I know the feeling! I am the same height as u. 

Norskygrl21 and LadyFrog, don't worry about being tall...It may take your hair longer to get it where you want it, but when it does get there, it will be even more loooooong! (comparatively speaking).  I'm 5'8" so I'm right there with you in the loooong slow journey.

But it looks shorter. 

You're 5'8" and you've still managed to get your hair to your ankles???? NO wonder it took you ages!
(sorry, I keep enthusing about your hair but it's so long!!)